Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-07-08
A FRIEND IN NEED.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

'Mother, mother there's one Of the
fue ladies from the hotel settin' in the
best room a-askin' for drink o water.
And she says She wants it drawed right
outen the old well; and how can 1t whcu
the buckets broker
Little Bennie Bliss had not the least
idea how picturesque he looked, with
hs trousers rolcl above the knees, and
hitchcd up by a string and nail, and
the ragged edges Of his hat-brim cast
ing irregular shadows on his sunburned
face.
Mrs Bliss hurriodly took her arms out
Of the wash tub, and wiped the silver
fringes of soap suds with the roller
towel.
"Oh, dear" she sighed, Il wish the
fine ladies would select any other than
wash day morning to nuke their visits"
But tie next instant her hospitabIc
heart stuue her for the ref c.ion.
run, Benny" she said, "and let the
tin-pail down the wcll-and be careful,
for there's a hrkin OF butter hanging
there to cooi--and pour the water into
the spccklcd pitcher-tho one without
the cracked spout, dear-and bring it in,
with the glass tumbler."
(Which tumblcr. mother q,
"oh, dear, there isn't but oner'
sighed Mrs. Bliss, hurriedly trying on a
clean gingham apron to conceal the de-
ficicncics Of her well worn wash-day
gown. 'The other was cracked against
the edge of the sink this morning. And
be sure it's clean and bright, Benny,
there's a dear"
Thus speaking, Mrs. Bliss lifted the
boiler Of clothes of the stove, to make
sure of no mishap in her absence shut
the door to keep out a buff hen, with
six buff chicks, who were marauding
around the step and hurried into the
genteol gloom Of the Chest room, :"
where the grccn-papcl shades were
pulled down, and yesterdays bunch of
cinnamon roses was withering in no.
handled milk jug.
Mrs. Sewer sat there, in dress Of
pale lilac muslin, looped here and there
with ribbons Of a, deeper sha)e, an i'm
mense japanese fan in her hand, and a
prevailing scent Of frangipanni surround
ing her as with an atmosphere.
No greater contrast could haze been
presented than that between this butter
fly Of languid leisure and the poor little
working bee who stood opr osito her, in
the calico dress, and the face flushed
with homeIy exercise.
$50 sorry TO trouble you!" smiled
Mrs. Sewer But my poor throat was
parchcd, and the well under the button
ball-trees did look so lefrcshingr
"oh, it's no trouble !" said Mrs. Bliss.
with more politeness than truth. 'My
boy will bring you a drink directly.
Here he comes now"
And Master Benny made his appear
ance with pitcher of cool water in one
hand and the ono remaining family
tumbler in the other.
Is it out of that dear, old-time wellY'
isped Mr.. Sewer.
"Yes'ml' said Benny, eagerly. q
drawed it myself. The buckets broke,
but l let down a tin,pail. The buffers
gone headlong down the well, mother,
for"
"Husb, Bennyp said Mrs. Bliss, con,
cealing her anguish as best she might
under an exterior Of forced calmness.
"Delicious" calculated the visitor
setting down the tumbler. Like LIQUID
diamonds frozen into coolness. Alb, by
the-way, ma'am, I've been looking at
that dear old family Bible of yours p as
her capricious glance fell on a ponder,
GUS russet-bound volume which occupied
the post Of honor on the cherry wood
table beneath the gilt,framed looking
glass.
Mrs. Bliss flushed with pardonable
pride
eyes" said she, ''it has been in our
family for over seventy years. It
belonged to my poor husbands grand
father"
u am rather an enthusiast on the
subject of family bibles, simpered Mrs.
Sewer, who was one Of those ladies who
are always posing to imaginary au-
diences. 'ln fact Pm making col
lection of them. And if you dent mind
parting with it, I'll give you five dollars
for this one
Mrs. Bliss recoiled a little, as if some.
thing had struck her.
"ol, couldn'tw said She. ut
belonged to my poor husbands grand
father. and